The police are yet to comply with court bail order
on Senator Dino Melaye representing Kogi West senatorial district of Kogi
State.
This was contained in a statement issued on Monday
by Muhammad Muhammad of Justice and Freedom Watch which a copy was made
available to journalists in Lokoja.
According to the statement, "Despite the high
court order of Federal Capital Territory (FCT) on January 18, 2019, which
granted bail to Melaye, we wish to intimate Nigerians and indeed the world that
the Nigerian police are yet to comply with the court order which stipulates his
release.
"The court judgment granting Melaye bail is explicit
enough for the Nigerian police to understand and comply with it. We consider
this ploy by the Nigerian police as an affront, disturbing and insult to the country's
judicial system and rule of law.
"As we speak, Nigerian police authorities have
seen and received the court order, instead of them to comply, some actors
behind the Melaye's ordeal are pressurising the police to confront and
disrespect the judiciary.”
Muhammad noted that this was unacceptable in a democratic setting, where
police are expected to observe, respect and protect the rights of every
citizen.
Justice Yusuf Halilu of Maitama High Court in Abuja,
who gave the bail order following the application by counsel to Melaye, Chief
Mike Ozekhome (SAN), noted that Melaye must be healthy to stand trial. He said
since the senator cannot be arraigned on the stretcher or on hospital bed, he
should be allowed on bail to attend to his health, and subsequently gave the
order.
"On the hide and seek attempts by the Nigerian
police to molest court orders at will and particularly in the case of Melaye,
we call so other civil society organisations, the Nigerian media, Nigerian Bar
Association (NBA), all democratic partners and Nigerians from all strata to
rise up once again and defend the Constitution of the Federal Republic of
Nigeria from attempt by the police to shred it," the group stated.
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